What is the Supraspinatus?

The supraspinatus helps the movement of the arm. It is the muscle that enables a person to raise their arms over their head. This is called lateral abduction of the arm. This lateral movement of the upper arm away from the body and to the side allows one to raise their arms above their head to dive into a pool.

The supraspinatus passes under the acromion bone. This is the bone along the top of the shoulder. If this bone pinches when the arm is raised forward or upward, it can cause impingement syndrome. This creates a weakness in the functionality of the supraspinatus. It may also get so severe that it causes a breakdown of the supraspinatus tendon near the place of attachment of the humerus bone. If this occurs then surgery is the only option for treatment.

The supraspinatus tendon connects the supraspinatus muscle to the scapula and to the humerus in the rotator cuff. This tendon creates a tight fit between the ball and the socket of the shoulder joint. It runs along the top of the shoulder and is about as wide as a thumb. A healthy supraspinatus tendon should have a uniform texture. An injured tendon will feel uneven and frayed.

The supraspinatus is one of four muscles that make up the Rotator Cuff muscle group. The other three are the subscapularis, the infraspinatus and the teres minor. These four muscles work together to operate the movement of the shoulder. The supraspinatus muscle is one of the important muscles in this movement. It is also one of the most common muscles to injure in the rotator cuff muscle group.

Types of Supraspinatus Tears

Supraspinatus Muscle Tears can be either acute or degenerative. An acute tear is the result of an event that causes trauma, such as a fall. A degenerative tear occurs due to repetitive strain over time. Younger people are more likely to sustain an acute Supraspinatus Tear, while people who are over the age of 40 are more likely to develop a degenerative Supraspinatus Tear.

Athletes who do a lot of repetitive overhead movements (tennis players, baseball pitchers) and people who frequently raise their arms above their head at work (painters, builders) are also at risk of Supraspinatus Tears due to overuse.

Supraspinatus Tears can range in severity from a partial tear (tissue is torn but still partially connected) to a complete rupture (tissue is in two separate pieces). In severe cases, the tissue may even be pulled away from the bone.

Forum Content from the Health Care Company King Brand®

Can I use the shoulder wrap for my knee?

I have been doing it the past few days, it seems to get good coverage on the knee is there any reason why I would not be able to continue in this manner?

Re: Can I use the shoulder wrap for my knee?

Hi there,

I'm glad to hear you're experiencing improvement with your injury.

As long as the products are in contact with the injured area and snugly fit, then the treatment will be functioning as intended. So if the fit for the shoulder wrap is fitting for you, then feel free to continue treatments.

Treatment Options

The muscles of the rotator cuff provide the greatest range of motion of any joint of the body. Injuries can be caused by falling, lifting or making repetitive arm motions, especially those that are done overhead. Shoulder pain that lasts more than two days or prohibits your ability to work should be seen by a doctor.

Rest

The supraspinatus can heal on its own without requiring surgery. The body requires rest in a stress-free environment. Unfortunately this is hard to achieve with most people and their busy schedules. Using a sling can help to keep the shoulder and arm immobile, which will prevent the painful movements that can cause re-injury.

Cold Compression

Immediately following a Supraspinatus Injury, swelling will occur. Cold compression should be applied in 20 minute intervals during the first two to three days. Cold and compression work together to both relieve pain and reduce inflammation. It's best to use a cold compression wrap that is designed for the shoulder specifically, as this will provide the best coverage and most comfortable fit.

Physiotherapy

Normally, to increase your blood flow, you need to exercise or do other physical activity regularly. For someone who has been recently injured, though, this is dangerous! Re-injury is a very real problem, and if you re-injure yourself you are set back to where you started.

Once the inflammation and pain have subsided, stretching and strength building exercises can help increase flexibility and stability in the rotator cuff and supraspinatus. Over time the supraspinatus will be less prone to be pinched between the arm and shoulder bones. Make sure that you do not start physiotherapy too soon in the healing process, or further pain and re-injury will occur.

Blood Flow

Using a device to stimulate optimal blood flow, however, has almost no risk of re-injury compared to physical activity and exercises. Blood flow stimulation therapy can be used as a safe, effective means of improving circulation, with no effort required. You can stay completely at rest while using the device.

Depending on the severity of the injury, and the extent of the treatment, generally it can take from 2 to 12 weeks to heal. With maintaining optimal blood flow and keeping up with a proper physical therapy schedule, your recovery time can be greatly reduced.

Painkillers

Painkillers such as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and analgesics can be used to relieve the pain of your Supraspinatus Tear. Just make sure you restrict the use of painkillers to times when you're at rest. Using painkillers when you're active can cause you to feel a false sense of ability. All too often this results in re-injury and a much longer recovery time.

NSAIDs such as Aleve (naproxen) and Advil (ibuprofen) help to alleviate pain as well as swelling, whereas analgesics (Tylenol) are only designed to relieve pain.

Steroid Injections

Injecting steroids such as cortisone into your Supraspinatus can work to temporarily relieve the pain and inflammation, however, it won't do anything to heal the tear. Cortisone shots come with a variety of risks and side effects, such as skin discoloration, bone death and tendon rupture. That's why it's recommended that you don't have any more than 3-4 cortisone shots into an area of your body over the course of a year.

Causes of Supraspinatus Tears

Because the shoulder joint has a large range of motion it is common that a rotator cuff muscle or tendon can tear through overstretching or rapid twisting of the joint.

Tendonitis and tendonosis are other common ailments with the supraspinatus tendon. When the supraspinatus is overworked, pain may occur in the middle of the shoulder. Occupational stresses that can cause supraspinatus injuries are working for prolonged periods of time with your arms over your head.

Falling

Using your arm to break a fall or falling on your arm can bruise or tear a rotator cuff tendon or muscle.

Supraspinatus Bursitis

Supraspinatus Bursitis is known as 'Subacromial Bursitis' and is a condition caused by inflammation of the bursa that separates the supraspinatus tendon from the overlying ligament as well as the surface of the deltoid muscle. This subacromial bursa helps with the motion of the supraspinatus tendon of the rotator cuff in activities that would require you to lift your hands above your head.

As with all inflammation based injuries, it's recommended to follow the rice method found in the Treatment Options section of this page.

Supraspinatus Taping

Taping your supraspinatus can help to provide the damaged tissues with extra support and protection while you heal. It's also an effective way to prevent re-injury. You can wear the tape any time, but it's particularly important during physical activity.

Tape works to limit the movement of your injured tissue. By keeping the tissue in place, this reduces the risk of further injury during movement. Athletic tape (which is also known as sports tape or kinesiology tape) is growing in popularity amongst professional and amateur athletes, as well as doctorts, coaches and physiotherapists.

We recommend that you do some research online to find the tape application that works best for your supraspinatus injury. There are many resources out there with instructions and videos to help you with the applications. Something to keep in mind: make sure you are taping over the area that is painful, as this indicates which area of your shoulder has been injured.

Here is an example of a supraspinatus taping application:

1. Take one full length piece of tape (about 10 inches) and tear the backing off one end.

2. Anchor the tape just below the bone that protrudes from the side of your shoulder, using no stretch.

3. Pull the tape towards the back of your shoulder using 25% stretch, going just below where the top of the shoulder blade protrudes.

4. Lay the end of the tape down with no stretch.

5. Take another full length piece of tape and cut it in half, rounding the corners, so you have two pieces that are each about 5 inches long.

6. Take one of the 5 inch strips and tear the backing in the middle, peeling it away so you are holding onto the two anchor ends.

7. Apply the strip of tape vertically along the side of your shoulder, using 80% stretch in the middle and no stretch at the ends.

8. Apply the other 5 inch strip vertically right beside the one you just applied, but closer to your shoulder blade, using 80% stretch in the middle and no stretch at the ends.

9. Rub the tape in to make sure it sticks.

Supraspinatus Tendonitis

Supraspinatus tendonitis is a common source of shoulder pain in athletes that participate in overhead sports (volleyball, tennis, baseball, football, etc.) This is in most cases caused by an impingement of the supraspinatus tendon on the acromion as it passes between the acromion and the humeral head. Pain and a decrease in range of motion, strength and functionality are the main complaints that accompany this injury and should be addressed. While healing the supraspinatus is important, continuing range of motion exercises should be outlined as well to enable the full recovery process.

The goals of the acute phase are to relieve pain and inflammation, prevent muscle atrophy without intensifying the pain, and to re-establish non-painful range of motion. To help reduce inflammation the RICE method should be applied. Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Along with the RICE method, optimal blood flow should be generated to help bring nutrient rich oxygenated blood to the area of injury.

Supraspinatus Exercises

The supraspinatus and infraspinatus are two of the four muscles that make up the rotator cuff. The infraspinatus muscle is in charge of shoulder external rotation, and the supraspinatus muscle is in charge of shoulder abduction. Both muscles are prone to injury and require strengthening.

If injury has occurred to the supraspinatus tendon, please do not do any of these exercises until the injury has healed itself. When working on these exercises, know that pain is a sign of injury. If pain is felt, please stop these exercises and ice the injured area to reduce inflammation.

Broomstick Range of Motion – Abduction

Hold the broomstick with the hand of your injured arm, palm up. Push the wand directly out to your side. Guide with the other hand palm down until a stretch is felt.

Broomstick Range of Motion – External Rotation

Lie on your back holding the broomstick in both hands with your elbows bent to 90 degrees. Rotate your arms overhead as far as possible.

Exercise Band Strengthening – Abduction

Stand with one end of the band under your foot and the other end in your hand. Keep your elbow straight and raise your arm to shoulder level, out to the side.

Exercise Band Strengthening – External Rotation

Stand with the band in both hands. Keep elbows at your sides and bent at 90 degrees with your forearms facing forward. Pinch your shoulder blades together and rotate your forearms out.

Weighted Exercises – Abduction

Hold light weights and straighten the elbow and point your thumb down. Raise your arm diagonally from the hip to just below the shoulder height.

Weighted Exercises – External Rotation

Hold light weight, straighten the elbow and point your thumb up. Raise your arm diagonally from the hip to above the head.

Diagnosing Supraspinatus Tears

Symptoms of a torn supraspinatus tendon will usually consist of sudden pain in the shoulder some accompanied by a tearing feeling. This can be severe and may transmit down into the arm. Having the inability to sleep on the injured shoulder and signs of impingement where the tendon pinches between the ball and socket of the shoulder joint when moving the arm out over the height of the head. Pain can gradually get worse over time and eventually weakness in the shoulder will occur to the point where the athlete is unable to lift their arm up to the side. Overhead movements such as racket sports become very difficult.

Shoulder assessment tests:

Observation

The therapist will examine the shoulder, looking for swelling, bruising, muscle wasting, postural issues etc. It is important that the injured side is compared to the unaffected side at all times.

Palpation

The therapist will test the range of motion at the shoulder, both actively (the patient moves themselves) and passively (the therapist moves the arm and the patient relaxes). This should always be compared to the uninjured side for what is normal for each individual.

Resisted Muscle Test

The therapist will ask you to move your shoulder against resistance (usually provided by them pushing against you). Weakness compared to the uninjured side or pain during shoulder rotation or abduction indicates a rotator cuff injury.

Empty Can Test

You will be asked to put your arm out in front of you at a 45 degree angle to your body, with the thumb pointing to the floor (as if holding an empty can). The therapist will ask you to raise your arm while they resist your movement. This tests the supraspinatus tendon directly.

Drop Arm Test (Codman's Test)

Your arm will be moved above your head, and you're asked to gently lower your arm to your side. If you can't do this slowly and under control, or have severe pain in doing so, it suggests a tear in the rotator cuff, specifically the supraspinatus.

Abrasion Sign

You will be asked to sit and raise your arm to your side with the elbow bent. You will be asked to rotate your arm forwards and backwards. If there is any crunching noise (crepitus) there may be some inflammation or degenerative changes.

Neer's Sign

The therapist will position your arm with the thumb facing down and at a 45 degree angle to your body. They will then lift your arm up, above your head. If you experience pain or discomfort, you may have an impingement of the supraspinatus muscle.

Hawkins-Kennedy Test

Your arm will be raised in front of you to 90 degree and the elbow bent. The therapist will then medially rotate (turn the wrist down and elbow up) the arm. If this causes pain you probably have an impingement of the supraspinatus muscle.

Impingement Syndrome

What Is Shoulder Impingement Syndrome?

Shoulder impingement syndrome is a common cause of shoulder pain. It occurs when there is impingement of tendons or bursa in the shoulder from bones of the shoulder. Overhead activity of the shoulder, especially repeated activity, is a risk factor for shoulder impingement syndrome.

With impingement syndrome, pain is persistent and affects everyday activities. Motions such as reaching up behind the back or reaching up overhead to put on a coat or blouse may cause pain. Over time, impingement syndrome can lead to inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons and bursa. If not treated appropriately, the rotator cuff tendons can start to thin and tear.

Symptoms of Impingement Syndrome

The typical symptoms of impingement syndrome include difficulty reaching up behind your back, pain when lifting your arm above your head and weakness of the shoulder muscles. If the tendons are injured for a long period of time, the tendon can actually tear in two, resulting in a rotator cuff tear. This causes significant weakness and may make it difficult for you to lift your arm. Some people, if left untreated, will experience a rupture in the biceps muscle.

How is Impingement Syndrome Diagnosed?

X-rays will be taken to rule out arthritis as the symptoms are very similar. Images may show changes in the bone that indicate injury of the muscle or tendon. Bone spurs or changes in the normal contour of the bone may be present.

Treatment For Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

Anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin, naproxen or ibuprofen are the most common treatment to help relieve the symptoms of impingement syndrome. Medications are usually prescribed for six to eight weeks, as this is the common length it takes to treat impingement syndrome.

In addition to medications, daily stretching in a warm shower will help. Work on reaching your thumb up and behind your back. Avoid repetitive activities where the elbow would move to shoulder level.

If symptoms persist or if significant weakness is present, then your doctor may perform an ultrasound or MRI to rule out a rotator cuff tear. Most people who suffer from impingement syndrome are successfully treated with medication, stretching exercises and avoidance of repetitive overhead activity until the condition settles down.

Surgery

The major indication for surgery is ongoing pain, loss of function and failure to respond to one year of conservative therapy. If the injury is quite severe and you are young and active then surgery may be indicated to repair the tear. People who are more likely to need surgery include:

Athletes under 60 years old

Patients with complete tears of the rotator cuff tendon or muscle

If conservative treatment of rest, ice, exercises and other treatments is not having the desired effect after six weeks

Professional sports people who want the short cut to making sure the injury heals in the shortest possible time.

If your job requires constant shoulder use then surgery for a severe injury may be preferable.

Recovery time for a rotator injury will vary depending on several factors. Conservative treatment has a 40-90% success rate at fixing the problem. Surgery often has good results, with some studies citing a 94% satisfaction rate with the surgery, resulting in lasting pain relief and improved function. Very extensive tears often have a poor surgical outcome; however this injury is thankfully quite rare. If you are older, it will take longer to heal.